As a student who came to McGill from Asia, I used to think that Asian cuisine (Japanese food included) in Montreal was lacking.
Well…
As I came to know the city better, I realized that it was I who lacked the knowledge of where to find these divine foodplaces. So from me to you, here is my recommendation of places you could visit if you ever find yourself craving ramen or sushi.
1. Yokato Yokabai
Phone number: (514) 282-9991
Hours:
- Mon – Thu: 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm; 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
- Fri: 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm; 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm
- Sat: 12:00 pm – 11:00 pm
- Sun: 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Yokato Yokabai is an authentic tonkotsu ramen noodle shop located in the Plateau. Everything they make is in-house with organic ingredients and no MSG. Soft-boiled egg, tender pork, soft noodles — the choice of ingredients here are top notch. Not to mention, the broth is thick and flavourful. If you do find yourself in this restaurant, remember to also order the chicken karaage (trust me).
2. Saka-ba!
Phone number: (514) 507-9885
Hours:
- Mon – Tue: 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm
- Wed – Sun: 11:30 am – 3:00 pm; 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm
As another wonderful ramen house in the Plateau, Saka-ba! serves superb ramen alongside a variety of side dishes you could order. For example, the popular ebi miso ramen has miso, shrimp, egg, corn, bean sprouts, bamboo and green onions in a lobster and pork broth (yum!). The rich broth is definitely in the same league as Yokato Yokabai’s. The atmosphere is also incredible, full of funky Japanese decor and patterns.
3. Schlouppe Bistrot Nakamichi
Phone number: (438) 383-7650
Hours:
- Tue – Fri: 11:30 am – 3:30 pm; 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
- Sat: 11:30 am – 10:00 pm
- Sun: 11:30 am – 8.30 pm
This restaurant offers authentic Japanese ramen in a western-style setting. The place is small and quiet, a fine choice for small gatherings and dates. The portion may be a bit small for its price, but the quality does meet expectations. Unlike most ramen broths, the broth here is a chicken based stock that provides a lighter flavour. The donburi here is also quite great.
4. Jun-i
Where: 156 Avenue Laurier Ouest
Phone number: (514) 276-5864
Hours:
- (Lunch) Tue – Fri: 11:30 am – 2:00 pm
- (Dinner) Mon – Sat: 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Jun-i was started by the executive chef of the popular Montreal sushi place, Soto. What you can get in this restaurant is known as probably the closest you’ll get to traditional sushi in Montreal. Although a little expensive, you could get a better deal by going during lunch hours. Nevertheless, Jun-i is worth every penny.
5. Kazu
Where: 1862 Sainte Catherine Ouest
Phone number: (514) 937-2333
Hours:
- Mon: 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm; 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm
- Wed – Fri: 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm; 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm
- Sat: 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm
- Sun: 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm; 5:30 pm – 9:00 pm
From yaki gyoza to grilled tuna belly, Kazu is a well-known foodplace in Guy-Concordia that offers very different kinds of dishes. One of my personal favorites is the tuna salmon salad rice bowl (what a name!): freshly chopped tuna and salmon mixed with salad on steamed Japanese rice. The food is fantastic but expect to line up beforehand, as the place is small, and spend a little more than the average student’s meal budget.
6. Bistro Isakaya
Phone number: (514) 845-8226
Hours:
- Tue – Thu: 11:30 am – 2:00 pm; 6:00 pm – 9:30 pm
- Fri: 11:30 am – 2:00 pm; 6:00 pm – 10:30 pm
- Sat: 5:30 pm – 10:00 pm
- Sun: 5:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Bistro Isakaya is another nice place to eat sushi that is conveniently located on Avenue du Parc. It was established in 1999 by Shigeo Minagawa, and has been highly rated by many reviewers since. There are many options of sushi to choose from, all of which are delicious. The atmosphere is intimate and especially perfect for dinner.
7. Big in Japan
Where: 3723 Boulevard Sainte-Laurent
Phone number: (514) 847-2222
Hours:
- Mon – Wed: 10:00 am – 12:00 am
- Thu – Fri: 11:00 am – 3:00 am
- Sat: 4:00 pm – 3:00 am
- Sun: 4:00 pm – 12:00 am
Big in Japan is a laid-back, Japanese-style brasserie. The bar is difficult to find, but once inside, the ambience is magical— almost like it’s a secret location. From candle lights to suspended whiskey bottles, the vibe is sexy, but relaxing. And fear not, the menu is on par with the decorations. Big in Japan is a cool destination for drinking with friends or simply going on a date.
8. Bistro Japonais Furusato
Phone number: (514) 849-3438
Hours:
- Tue – Thu: 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm; 6:00 pm – 9:30 pm
- Fri: 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm; 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
- Sat: 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
This restaurant is a small cozy place with good sushi among other things. It’s a good place for McGill students as it’s at Avenue du Parc and the sushi is fresh, but not too expensive. Reservation is a must!
9. Imadake
Where: 4006 Sainte Catherine Ouest
Phone number: (514) 931-8833
Lunch Hours:
- Mon – Fri: 12:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Dinner Hours:
- Sun – Wed: 5:00 pm – 10:30 pm
- Thu: 5:00 pm – 11:30 pm
- Fri – Sat: 5:00 pm – 1:00 am
Imadake is an izakaya, a Japanese pub where small appetizers are shared alongside drinks. With a name that translates to “only for now,” they constantly change their food and drinks list to always provide an interesting experience. Imadake is all about its relaxing feeling.
Cover Image obtained from:
http://learnjapan.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Traditional-Japanese-f…